EXTRACTS. 241 



same day in prepared beds, the stronger by theinselves. The strongest plants 

 will shew blossoms the following spring, some of them having from twelve to 

 twenty bells or pips; these sliould be reduced to three or four, which should 

 be left on the extremity to draw up the sap : were the whole sutlered to remain, 

 the plant would be much exhausted in flowering; and if wholly taken oH, it 

 receives a great check. 



'J'he bulbs are again to be taken up in October, and replanted as before, not 

 permitting them to remain any time out of the ground. Moisture seems 

 essential to the perfection of the Hyacinth; and I fiud that those which re- 

 main in the ground, and of course subject to its influence, are not at any time 

 affected with the ring disease, by which many of those which are placed in the 

 store are lost every season. This subject is well deserving of attention of Hor- 

 ticultural Societies, who should award prizes to the persons in their respective 

 districts producing the best blow, taking variety and number of roots into ac- 

 count; for in my opinion, as good Hyacinths may be raised in this country, 

 as iu Holland, or any where else; as a proof of this I may just mention that, 

 being at one time, a few years since, in want of a Hyacinth to make up the 

 requifite number to qualify me to compete for the Horticultural Society's prize, 

 I took one of my native plants, and this turned out to be the identical one for 

 which the premium was awarded, although in competition with hundreds of 

 bulbs which had been imported from Holland the preceding autumn; indeed I 

 do not hesitate to assert, that any one making trial of the method now re- 

 commended, will have the satisfaction of beholding as good a blow as he can 

 produce from imported bulbs. 



I use a compost made up in the following manner : — One barrowful of loam 

 from rocky places; one ditto well rotted cow-dung; this should not be less if 

 possible than three years old; one-third of a barrow of mould, produced from 

 rotted tree leaves, and about a fifth of a barrow from an old cucumber bed ; 

 with this, the bed is to be made two and a half feet deep, and the surface 

 covered with turf-mould, to preserve the bulbs from frost. — Irish Farmer and 

 Gardener* Magazine. 



PART III. 



MISCELLANEOUS INTELLIGENCE. 



QUERIES. 



On flowering Amaryllis JacouejE. — I should feel extremely obliged if 

 any of the numerous subscribers to that excellent publication the Fluriciiltural 

 Cabincl would give me any information on the mode of treatment I am to use 

 to cause the Amaryllis Jacobeae to flower, having had the bulbs by me nearly 

 three years, but cannot get them to flower. Thos. Jones. 



Coxjfhillij, Oct. 8th, 1833. 



On Saw-Dust. — Can saw dust (from all sorts of timber which has laid for 

 years, till it has become, to all appearance, a black mould) be used bcueflcially 

 as a mould, or manure to plants and vegetables. S. C. A. 



On Destroving Ants. — Can you, or any of your readers, inform me 

 through the medium of your veiy useful and interesting work, how I can 

 effectually destroy ants. Some parts of my flower garden arc so overrun with 

 theui, that every thing I plant there dies in a day or two. I have no doubt 

 many people, as well us myself, will be nuich benelitted if any method can be 

 found by which our gardeuscan be cleaned from such destructive little insects. 



1'. L. S. 



On Gravelly Soil. — 1 should be highly obliged if any of your numerous 

 rcadem would furnish me with any plau by which u gravelly soil can be ren- 

 dered productive, at a small expense, for a kitchen gardeu. 1 recollect that to 



2 1 



